Safety of Endoscopic Thyroidectomy Via Retro-Auricular Single-Site Approach, Transoral Approach and Transareola

The strap muscles and the sternocleidomastoid muscle were separated. Upper parathyroid and lower parathyroid glands were identified and preserved. The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) was identified，A lobe of thyroid specimen and central lymph nodes were dissected.

The patient was placed in a supine position with slight neck extension under nasotracheal intubation. The mouth was garbled with povidone iodine before surgery. Three laparoscopic ports (a 10- to 15-mm port at midline and two 5-mm ports at the lateral junction between the canine and first premolar teeth)were inserted under the lower lip at the oral vestibular area.The strap muscleswere separated in the midline to expose the thyroid and trachea. The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) was identified at the insertion to the larynx, then followed downandparallel tothe trachea inferiorly.